--The World's 10 richest of the rich--

No. 1: Carlos Slim Helú / $53.5 billion / telecoms
Mexico's telecom tycoon, who pounced on privatization of the national telephone company in the 1990s, is world's richest person for first time after coming in third place last year. Net worth up $18.5 billion in a year. Recently received regulatory approval to merge his fixed-line assets into América Móvil (AMX), Latin America's biggest mobile-phone company. His construction conglomerate, Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo, builds roads and energy infrastructure.

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Son of a Lebanese immigrant also owns stakes in financial group Inbursa (GPFOY), Bronco Drilling (BNRC), Independent News & Media, Saks (SKS) and The New York Times Co. (NYT). Newspaper company's stock popped in early March on talk Slim might buy a controlling stake; he denies the rumor. Donating $65 million to fund a research project in genomic medicine with American billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad.


No. 2: Bill Gates / $53 billion / Microsoft
Software visionary is now the world's second-richest man. Net worth still up $13 billion in a year as Microsoft (MSFT) shares rose 50% in 12 months; value of investment vehicle Cascade Investments also swelled.
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More than 60% of fortune held outside Microsoft; investments include Four Seasons hotels, Grupo Televisa (TV) and AutoNation (AN). Stepped down from day-to-day duties at Microsoft in 2008 to focus on philanthropy. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation dedicated to fighting hunger, improving education in U.S. high schools and developing vaccines against malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS.

No. 3: Warren Buffett / $47 billion / investments

America's most prominent investor up $10 billion in past 12 months on surging Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) shares; says U.S. has survived "economic Pearl Harbor" but warns recovery will be slow. Shrewdly invested $5 billion in Goldman Sachs (GS) and $3 billion in General Electric (GE) during 2008 market collapse. Recently acquired railroad giant Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $26 billion.

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"We've put a lot of money to work during the chaos of the last two years," Buffett says. "When it's raining gold, reach for a bucket, not a thimble."
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Berkshire Hathaway book value was up 19.8%, to $21.8 billion, in 2009. Son of Nebraska stockbroker met value investor Benjamin Graham while studying economics at Columbia University. Took over textile firm Berkshire Hathaway in 1965; used company as a vehicle to invest in insurance (Geico), food (Dairy Queen), utilities (MidAmerican Energy) and, recently, green tech (electric-car maker BYD).

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~http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Forbes/the-worlds-10-richest-of-the-rich.aspx